No, social services in Sweden do not kidnap children. However, they do have the legal right to take a child into care in certain serious situations. This always happens through a legal process and with court approval though.
How does a preventive detention of a child happen?
It often starts with social services receiving concerning information about a child’s situation. It can for example be that the child’s health or development is at risk. Social services will then contact the parents to collaborate with them, offer support, and try to improve the situation at home.
If they assess that the child is in immediate danger, social services can apply to the Administrative Court for an emergency placement. If the court decides that the child is at risk of serious harm, neglect, or abuse, they can issue a decision under the Care of Young Persons Act. This gives social services the legal right to remove the child from the home against the parents’ will.
Can Swedish social services kidnap children?
Placing a child in a safer environment isn’t kidnapping, because it’s based on a legal decision made by the Administrative Court. There are also clear legal requirements for such a decision:
- Social services have to prove that the child is at risk if they remain in the home.
- It’s always a court that decides whether such a placement should be made – meaning social services don’t kidnap children.
- The police may only be involved to carry out the court-ordered placement.
What can parents do?
- Appeal to the Administrative Court
You can always appeal a placement you don’t agree with. The case will then be reviewed by the court. - Request a reassessment
You can request that the court re-evaluate the decision once you’ve made the necessary changes to ensure your child’s safety at home. - Get legal support
Emergency placements of children are complex matters. This can be one reason why many mistakenly believe that social services in Sweden “kidnap” children. Sometimes, you may need to hire a lawyer to better understand your legal rights.
Cooperate with social services
Social services can provide support like contact families, care plans, or other interventions to prevent forced placement. Actively cooperating with them can make the process smoother.
There is a lot of misinformation about social services in Sweden kidnapping children. If you’re worried, it’s important to talk to someone who works with these types of cases so you can get accurate information from the start.
Do you need legal help?
We have several lawyers who can help you in this area. Book an appointment with one of them in the Kliently app, or contact us to hire one of the lawyers. We recommend: Sofia Hollström
